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UFC 261

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UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2
The poster for UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2
Information
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateApril 24, 2021(2021-04-24)
VenueVyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
CityJacksonville,Florida,United States
Attendance15,269[1]
Total gate$3,300,000[1]
Buyrate700,000[2]
Event chronology
UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 UFC on ESPN: Reyes vs. Procházka

UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2was amixed martial artsevent produced by theUltimate Fighting Championshipthat took place on April 24, 2021 atVyStar Veterans Memorial ArenainJacksonville, Florida,United States.[3][4]

Background

[edit]

The promotion had initially planned to hold the event inSingapore.However, negotiations with the Singaporean government fizzled amongstCOVID-19 protocolsand the promotion initially turned to their home base of Las Vegas.[3]On March 15, UFC presidentDana Whiteannounced the event would be moved toJacksonville, Florida,with a full capacity of "15,000 UFC fans", marking the first time sinceUFC 248in March 2020 that a full capacity crowd would be available (the UFC hosted a trio of events inAbu Dhabiin January with a limited number of fans).[4]Jacksonville also hosted the UFC's first fights back after the start of theCOVID-19 pandemicin May 2020, before the organization started hosting events in either Las Vegas or Abu Dhabi.[4]

AUFC Welterweight Championshiprematch between the current championKamaru Usman(alsoThe Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilianswelterweight winner) andJorge Masvidalheadlined the event.[4]They previously met atUFC 251,where Usman defended his title via unanimous decision.[5]

AUFC Women's Strawweight Championshipbout between the current championZhang Weiliand former championRose Namajunastook place as the co-main event.[6][7]

AUFC Women's Flyweight Championshipbout between current championValentina Shevchenkoand former strawweight championJéssica Andradecompleted the triad of title fights.[8]

A middleweight rematch between formerUFC Middleweight ChampionChris WeidmanandUriah Hallwas expected to take place atUFC 258in February.[9]They met previously in September 2010 at a Ring of Combat event for the organization's middleweight title, with Weidman winning via TKO.[10]However, Weidman was pulled from that event in late-January due to apositive COVID-19 test.The pairing remained intact and eventually took place at this event.[11][12]

Johnny Walkerwas expected to faceJimmy Crutein a light heavyweight bout.[13]However, Walker pulled out due to an injury and was replaced by formerUFC Light Heavyweight ChampionshipchallengerAnthony Smith.[14]

Randy BrownandAlex Oliveirawere expected to meet in a welterweight bout atUFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane,but Brown pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[15]They eventually fought each other at this event.[16]

A bantamweight bout between Mark Striegl and Johnny Muñoz was expected to take place at the event.[17]However, Striegl was removed from the bout on March 24 due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Jamey Simmons.[18]In turn, Simmons also pulled out on April 8 for undisclosed reasons. As a result, Muñoz was removed from the card as well and will be rescheduled for a future event.[19]

Results

[edit]
Main card
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Welterweight Kamaru Usman(c) def. Jorge Masvidal KO (punch) 2 1:02 [a]
Women’s Strawweight Rose Namajunas def. Zhang Weili(c) KO (head kick) 1 1:18 [b]
Women’s Flyweight Valentina Shevchenko(c) def. Jéssica Andrade TKO (elbows) 2 3:19 [c]
Middleweight Uriah Hall def. Chris Weidman TKO (leg injury) 1 0:17
Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith def. Jimmy Crute TKO (doctor stoppage) 1 5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Welterweight Randy Brown def. Alex Oliveira Submission (rear-naked choke) 1 2:50
Welterweight Dwight Grant def. Stefan Sekulić Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Brendan Allen def. Karl Roberson Submission (ankle lock) 1 4:55
Featherweight Pat Sabatini def. Tristan Connelly Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Early preliminary card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Bantamweight Danaa Batgerel def. Kevin Natividad TKO (punches) 1 0:50
Lightweight Kazula Vargas def. Rong Zhu Decision (unanimous) (30–26, 29–28, 29–28) 3 5:00
Flyweight Jeff Molina def. Aori Qileng Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–27) 3 5:00
Women’s Strawweight Ariane Carnelossi def. Na Liang TKO (punches) 2 1:28
  1. ^For theUFC Welterweight Championship.
  2. ^For theUFC Women's Strawweight Championship.
  3. ^For theUFC Women's Flyweight Championship.

[20]

Bonus awards

[edit]

The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]

  • Fight of the Night: Jeff Molina vs. Aori Qileng
  • Performance of the Night: Kamaru UsmanandRose Namajunas

See also

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References

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  1. ^abMike Bohn (2021-04-25)."UFC 261 post-event facts: Kamaru Usman's octagon streak hits rarified air".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-04-26.
  2. ^Mookie Alexander (2021-04-27)."Report: UFC 261 generated over 700,000 domestic pay-per-view buys".bloodyelbow.Retrieved2021-04-27.
  3. ^abRaphael Marinho (2021-02-18)."Without agreement to perform UFC 261 in Singapore, UFC opts for Las Vegas".globoesporte.globo.Retrieved2021-02-18.(in Portuguese)
  4. ^abcdStaff (2021-03-15)."UFC 261 heads to Florida with Usman-Masvidal 2 leading three title fights in front of full crowd".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-03-15.
  5. ^Andreas Hale (2020-07-14)."UFC 251 results: Kamaru Usman dominates Jorge Masvidal to retain UFC Welterweight title".dazn.Retrieved2021-03-16.
  6. ^Ariel Helwani (2021-02-26)."Sources: Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas for strawweight title being targeted for UFC 261".espn.Retrieved2021-03-12.
  7. ^Mathew Scott (2021-03-09)."UFC 261: Zhang Weili confirmed to fight Rose Namajunas on April 24 in strawweight title clash".scmp.Retrieved2021-03-12.
  8. ^Brett Okamoto (2021-02-24)."Valentina Shevchenko-Jessica Andrade flyweight title fight set for UFC 261".espn.Retrieved2021-02-24.
  9. ^Mike Bohn (2020-11-17)."Uriah Hall, Chris Weidman agree to rematch at UFC 258 on Feb. 13".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-01-28.
  10. ^Keith D'Souza (2020-12-09)."Uriah Hall set to rematch Chris Weidman at UFC 258".essentiallysports.Retrieved2021-01-29.
  11. ^Ariel Helwani (2021-01-28)."Chris Weidman tests positive for COVID-19, bout vs. Uriah Hall now off".espn.Retrieved2021-01-28.
  12. ^Mike Bohn (2021-01-29)."Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman rematch shifts from UFC 258 to UFC 261 after positive COVID-19 result".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-01-29.
  13. ^Brett Okamoto (2021-01-02)."UFC light heavyweights Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker agree to March 27 fight, sources say".espn.Retrieved2021-03-12.
  14. ^Danny Segura (2021-02-09)."Anthony Smith replaces Johnny Walker, meets Jimmy Crute at UFC 261 in April".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-02-09.
  15. ^John Morgan (2021-02-22)."Randy Brown out of UFC Fight Night 186; Alex Oliveira needs new opponent".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-02-22.
  16. ^Staff (2021-03-24)."Rescheduled matchup of Randy Brown vs. Alex Oliveira among additions to UFC 261".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-03-28.
  17. ^Mike Heck (2021-03-03)."Johnny Munoz vs. Mark Striegl added to UFC 261".mmafighting.Retrieved2021-03-24.
  18. ^Nolan King (2021-03-24)."With Mark Striegl out, Jamey Simmons targeted to fight Johnny Munoz at UFC 261".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-03-24.
  19. ^Jack Welch (2021-04-08)."Johnny Munoz vs Jamey Simmons off for UFC 261".behindthegrind.co.Retrieved2021-04-19.
  20. ^"UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2".Ultimate Fighting Championship. 5 March 2021.Retrieved2021-03-12.
  21. ^Staff (2021-04-25)."UFC 261 bonuses: Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas among $50,000 no-brainers".mmajunkie.usatoday.Retrieved2021-04-25.
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